The thought used to be that French girls were all petite like Leslie Caron...

No more.

What are they eating I ask myself to get these legs?

The only historical reference I found were French 19th century costume drawings...perhaps not very relevant?

Clearly Tamara de Lempika was not drawing and painting French slender- legged girls. Were her models Slavic?

When I went to Brazil I noticed the girls/Brasilieras had very curvy hips. I decided this was due to standing in the water lengthy periods of time at Ipanema Beach and letting the waves slap their hips. After 3 months of following suit my hips were NOT curvy like Brazilieras. It's genetic.

Same deal in France.
It's not because they eat a lot of haricot vert.

It's genetic.

As Americans we're brought up to believe we can change/do anything we want if we try hard enough. This is not true.

"What are they eating, I ask myself, to get these legs?" -- Well, according to the New York Times and the Washington Post this week, it could be the result of the "Americanization" of French cuisine... It seems Parisians are big into American food, Am-Ba-Ga's and fast food in general... French girls are taller than they used to be? Maybe we have McDo to thank for it?! :-) Veronique (French Girl in Seattle)

PS: I hate to disappoint you but most women in my [French] family - and that includes 5'3 Moi - don't have long legs! :-) For the record, I always thought American women looked taller than French women... but I will start looking at their legs from now on...

My French is on my dear mom's side,but alas, my legs are not.Though I am destined to remain short,despite this shortcoming I long ago learned to accept (and like) myself (almost as much as I do those heavenly French pastries!)And! Now I know why I so enjoyed Leslie Caron!Didn't realize she was a petite lady,too.(only wish my figure resembled hers! )

You know, it's not only french girls who have long legs, french guys too !I'm a french guy myself, and my legs are reaaaaaally long, and when I am sitting, Im a bit on the short side, it's like all my height is in my legs !

Happened here by accident. What I've noticed is that French women don't have longer legs- they are just short-waisted. Genetics. If you try on French pants, they are the same length as American pants (for the same size), but French shirts always seem a little short (compared to American ones of the same size).

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I moved to Paris 2 years ago. I should have done it sooner but that's how the macaron crumbles. Living on the Ile Saint Louis next to the Seine after the 19eme is 'la cerise sur la gâteau'. It doesn't get any better. I've painted watercolors for Bocuse, Champagne Mumm, Guerlain, Frederick Cassel, The Russian Tearoom and the Maharana of Udaipur.
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